South Cotabato pineapples enter UAE market as Philippines expands Gulf fruit exports

Fresh 18-metric-ton shipment of MD2 pineapples arrives in Dubai, with biweekly exports planned as demand for Philippine tropical fruits grow.

Philippine pineapples are gaining more ground in the Middle East as a fresh shipment reaches the United Arab Emirates, opening another export market that could potentially bring higher incomes for local farmers.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said an 18-metric-ton shipment of premium MD2 pineapples arrived in the UAE on June 28, with the fruits sourced from farms in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

The shipment, consisting of 1,500 boxes, entered through the Port of Khor Fakkan before being distributed to buyers across the UAE.

Officials said the export is expected to become a regular trade route, with new shipments planned every two weeks as demand for Philippine tropical fruits continues to grow in the Gulf region.

Aside from the UAE, Philippine fruits such as bananas, mangoes, durian, and pomelo are also being distributed in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf markets through local trading partners.

The DA said expanding exports to the Gulf helps reduce the country’s dependence on traditional overseas buyers while tapping a region where growing populations, tourism, and limited agricultural production continue to drive demand for imported food.

The agency added that increasing access to overseas markets is part of its strategy to improve the competitiveness of local agriculture and create better earning opportunities for Filipino farmers producing high-value crops.

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